Pirelli or Metzeler?

[ruinedinc]

Hey can i get some experienced opinions on metzeler z6's and z8 interact's and pirelli diablo corsa III's and diablo rosso II please? needa get some new ones for a new bike

[Hitcher]

The Z8 is a better tyre than the Z6 but I'm now hesitant to buy a rear tyre that hasn't got tread across the centre. Not for any handling or water-shedding abilities but because you've got no effective means of knowing how much wear is left until shreds of steel appear. I've had that happen with a Z6 and with a Pirelli Angel.

I've never used Diablos. They're a different type of tyre to either the Z6 or Z8. The nearest equivalent, indeed the exact equivalent (given that Pirelli and Metzeler are the same company) is the Diablo Strada. And I'd caution about using one of those for the same reasons I outlined regarding the Z6 and the Angel.

[budda]

Hey can i get some experienced opinions on metzeler z6's and z8 interact's and pirelli diablo corsa III's and diablo rosso II please? needa get some new ones for a new bike

what sort of bike you looking to re-shoe ?

[DrunkenMistake]

I have a Z8 on my front tyre and a Dunlop sportmax GPR 200 on the back, Iv never had pirelli's though.

[Quasievil]

Dude if you want a good ride with the best performance dont mix tyres, they are designed to work together as a pair. wet performance and turn in performance are both affected by different rubber on the same machine, dont do it waste of time ;-)

[DrunkenMistake]

Dude if you want a good ride with the best performance dont mix tyres, they are designed to work together as a pair. wet performance and turn in performance are both affected by different rubber on the same machine, dont do it waste of time ;-)

I personally havnt had any issues with it, but Its only a 400 its not doing high speeds or anything, plus shopping for a ruddy 18" rear wheel isnt fun

[Quasievil]

plus shopping for a ruddy 18" rear wheel isnt fun

Oh Shit yeah that wont be cool at all, what where they thinking !

[DrunkenMistake]

Oh Shit yeah that wont be cool at all, what where they thinking !

Lmao, I could have got the battle axes, but I decided to splash out on some primo tyres that will last me forever on this bike haha. I really wanted something I could rely on during the Dunedin winter.

[racefactory]

The Z8 is a better tyre than the Z6 but I'm now hesitant to buy a rear tyre that hasn't got tread across the centre. Not for any handling or water-shedding abilities but because you've got no effective means of knowing how much wear is left until shreds of steel appear. I've had that happen with a Z6 and with a Pirelli Angel.

Even with steel starting to come through you can still run the tyre for a good while, no worries.

[ruinedinc]

what sort of bike you looking to re-shoe ?

96 gsxr 750. Ideally i'd put the diablos on for the kinda bike it is, but i'm gonna be carrying a passenger every now and then so i don't know what the wear will be like on the sport tires opposed to the sport touring ones. and am i right in saying that sport touring tires usually have more tread and do better in the wet?

[ruinedinc]

The Z8 is a better tyre than the Z6 but I'm now hesitant to buy a rear tyre that hasn't got tread across the centre. Not for any handling or water-shedding abilities but because you've got no effective means of knowing how much wear is left until shreds of steel appear. I've had that happen with a Z6 and with a Pirelli Angel.

I've never used Diablos. They're a different type of tyre to either the Z6 or Z8. The nearest equivalent, indeed the exact equivalent (given that Pirelli and Metzeler are the same company) is the Diablo Strada. And I'd caution about using one of those for the same reasons I outlined regarding the Z6 and the Angel.

ok cool thanks. point definitely worth considering

[nallac]

I've run Z6's, Z6 Interact and Diablo's at one stage or another, they're all bloody good tyres that i would definately use again. The Lack of tread in the centre has never bothered me.
The Buell currently shod in Z6 Interacts,I would like to try the Z8's if they are better than the Z6's as Hitcher says they'd be bloody good.

[Stylo]

I've run Z6's, Z6 Interact and Diablo's at one stage or another, they're all bloody good tyres that i would definately use again. The Lack of tread in the centre has never bothered me.
The Buell currently shod in Z6 Interacts,I would like to try the Z8's if they are better than the Z6's as Hitcher says they'd be bloody good.

I had a set of Z8's on the Hayabusa and managed 5,500 kms on them before I traded the Bike in . That included a 2,500km trip aound the country 2 up with all the gear and never had a problem with them and was quite amazed how well they performed in the wet and dry . They were only starting to show signs of wear when I traded the Bike , no squaring at all - I'll be getting another set on my new Bike for sure .

[Hitcher]

While wear is important, it shouldn't be the only determinant of tyre performance. For example, my Battlax 021s are wearing well: 9,200km and little squaring or scruffing, and still plenty of tread depth on the rear. However they are a bit ambiguous in the wet and the front takes a while to commit when being pushed hard through things twisty. I suspect 12,000km could be a possibility, although I'll be quick to condemn if performance suffers any more as they tire.

[AllanB]

I'm now hesitant to buy a rear tyre that hasn't got tread across the centre. Not for any handling or water-shedding abilities but because you've got no effective means of knowing how much wear is left until shreds of steel appear.

Agree 100%. I have a theory about this too.

Face it, it would cost the makers nothing to have made the tyre with four evenly spaced 3mm wide 'holes' of tread in the centre indicating when the tyre was stuffed. There would be zero affect on performance etc.

My theory as to why they do not do this is that they get a incorrectly perceived extended life out of them - lots of Internet heros claiming big kms out of a tyre that was effectively worn out several thousand kms before they were replaced due to 'wires' showing.